Just wondering what kind of photos do best at IS? The thing is that I obtain a fairly good result at SS with the same kind of photos (isolated objects mostly) while at IS I only had one download in about a month (20 pictures)

Jo

That explains a lot. None of my pictures have landscapes or the like. Most of them are isolated objects. I might go out more often and shoot some bigger things

Jo

i think basically everything sells 'well' at istock, the thing that determines your sales however if which images you get good search results rankings for.  If your image gets off to a bad start on istock, then it will be lost on page 50 of isolated objects forever.

All images on SS are at least given a 'beginners chance' as lots of people sort by newest image... so everything has an 'equal' chance of being seen when it is new.

Also did I read right that you have 20 images? You really won't see any downloads at IS until you get over 100 images. Things come more slowly at IS, but they last longer. I have an older portfolio at SS and I make less money there (although I get more downloads).

Not entirely true.  I only have 23 images on IS and today have over 600 sales since March.  Although I do recognize my great luck in this .   I had one photo that would sell several times a day and they switched, now a couple times a week.  Lately my "farmer" series sell well overall.  If nothing changes with the search, I should have 2 more flames mid-Jan.

I just don't have the backbone to submit to IS.  I have 10 in the rejected folder that need to be fixed and two in cue that will likely be moved over.   I won't send them any more "on white" until I get a couple additional lights next year and maybe I can combat my feathery edges!

I can just imagine what the great photographers must make on IS.  (or if they paid out  30-50%)!

http://www.istockphoto.com/user_view.php?id=702010

Well, I can say this much... they have me too scared to send the rest!  At least I know that if I send them the best that they will produce results!   It's just so dissapointing when they don't think they are as wonderful as you do SS has taken a dive for me in November after a few great months.  I managed to upload a couple this week and have only had a couple dls.  Hopefully I'll get some stock shooting over the break.

Thanks Tom!  This is wierd, I reached 600 sales today at DT too (same day).  Now that they are at an equal place I betcha my 23 photos at IS outsell my 220 photos at DT from here on....  Ready set... GO!

Wouldn't life be sweet to have a couple hundred photos on IS that got such attention!  That school shot hasn't really sold in a couple months, the farm photos are doing really well all of a sudden.  And IS actually approved one yesterday...   (which means the other in que won't be as they only take half of what I send.   )

Yeah, the money's good at IS, but you have to take your lumps (in the form of image rejections) in order to get it. One of my IS monthly goals is to build my portfolio by at least 60 images ... it can get disheartening at times.

Some days are good, some are really bad...   I got beat near death on my last batch.... just about 50% rejected...  but that's IS.  Some batches they'll only reject 2 outta 20...     In the long run, they still make me the most money..  but I sure agree with Sharply_done,  yesterday I was feeling pretty low... 
the bulk of the rejections... artifacting...    oh well,  like I've said before many times,   "If one doesn't want them another will and they'll sell them."   Guess that's why I'm with 10 agencies... LOL   =tom